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GERRY – The strong winds that buffeted the region Thursday caused a tractor-trailer to jackknife on Route 60, Chautauqua County sheriff’s officials said.

The accident, which occurred at about 10:30 a.m., left the roadway reduced to a single lane for about two hours. No injuries were reported and no charges were pending against the driver.

By Maki Becker

News Staff Reporter

Strong winds blasted the region overnight and this morning, bringing down trees and leaving about 2,000 area customers without power.

The highest wind gust to hit the area was 59 mph at 4:14 a.m. at the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport, said National Weather Service meteorologist Dave Thomas.

The winds ushered in wintry temperatures right around 30 degrees, clearing away the warm air that had enveloped Buffalo Niagara over the last couple of days.

Thomas said the winds would slowly diminish over the course of the day, although gusts in the 40 to 50 mph range were still possible through the morning hours.

Flurries were expected throughout the day in the Buffalo area while a lake-effect snow warning was in effect for Southern Erie County down through the Southern Tier.

While Buffalo won’t have to worry about much accumulation for now, forecasters are keeping an eye on an approaching system that could bring lake-effect snow to the Buffalo metro region Friday, particularly toward the end of the day.